TopTire Review

    Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    2026 test data · 16 independent tests · 2 head-to-head

    → See full Barum vs Falken brand comparison

    Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02: the full picture

    This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Barum Polaris 5 and Falken EUROWINTER HS02 appear in 16 tests, 2 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.

    How the Barum Polaris 5 performs. It takes the win in snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.

    How the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 4 tests.

    What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.

    Verdict

    The Barum Polaris 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    Choose Barum Polaris 5 if

    Overall winner
    • You prioritise snow

    Choose Falken EUROWINTER HS02 if

    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise ice

    Test profile

    MetricBarum Polaris 5Falken EUROWINTER HS02
    SegmentWinterWinter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used124
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank13.49.2
    Latest test20242025
    Tire Lab Score89.788.6

    Tire Lab Score

    89.7
    Very Good · Winter
    88.6
    Very Good · Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryBarum Polaris 5Falken EUROWINTER HS02Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 14.4
    11
    Avg rank 8.9
    1
    Falken EUROWINTER HS02
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 10.5
    2
    Avg rank 4.8
    2
    Falken EUROWINTER HS02
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 12.5
    1
    Avg rank 13.1
    Barum Polaris 5
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 8.5
    Avg rank 6.0
    Falken EUROWINTER HS02
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 9.4
    1
    Avg rank 7.4
    1
    Falken EUROWINTER HS02
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 9.0
    Avg rank 6.3
    Falken EUROWINTER HS02
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 15.2
    Avg rank 6.3
    Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:

    💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 wins this category with an average rank of 8.9, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    ☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 wins this category with an average rank of 4.8, compared to 10.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    ❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 12.5, compared to 13.1 for the Falken EUROWINTER HS02.

    🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 8.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 9.0 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Falken EUROWINTER HS02?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 5.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Barum Polaris 5 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 5.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 shows better mileage performance than the Barum Polaris 5.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Falken EUROWINTER HS02 in 4, with 2 head-to-head tests where both were measured.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →